How Do You Dry Wood For A Native American Flute?
Native American flutes are made with wood that has been dried before being used in the flute-making process. Making a flute from wood that contains too much moisture can cause the flute to decay over time and can also result in a flute that doesn’t tune properly. Drying wood for a Native American flute isn’t a difficult process and can be done by gradually reducing moisture, which results in materials suitable for making a quality instrument that will last for generations. Place the wood for your flute in a microwave. If the wood is green, or very moist, start with four minutes to reduce the moisture content. Set the microwave at about half the time if it is already partially dry. Feel the wood after the initial time. If the wood feels dry, remove it from the microwave. You may have to repeat this process two or three times for extremely moist wood. Heat your oven to 140 degrees F. Rub mineral oil on the wood to help prevent cracking as it dries. Place wood directly on the rack, which
